Being a member of the Hawkeye family is about more than wearing black and gold

Being a member of the Hawkeye family is about more than wearing black and gold

Being a member of the Hawkeye family is about more than wearing black and gold

By: Bruce Harreld & Montse Fuentes | 2019.08.26 | 07:20 am

The week leading up to classes always provides us a wonderful opportunity to greet new students, reconnect with faculty and staff, and engage with our new representatives of shared governance. It is an orientation of sorts, and it is during this week every year that we are reminded of why we chose to become Hawkeyes.

Like many on college campuses, we Hawkeyes are surrounded by people who are compelled to create, thirsty for exploration, and hungry for social change. What separates the University of Iowa from our peers is our work ethic, friendliness, and willingness to collaborate even when it doesn’t involve personal gain. These are the traits we are excited to exhibit for the newest members of our campus community.

The students, faculty, and staff joining us this semester come from around the world and just down the street. Initially, many may find our community confining or overwhelming, our diversity lacking or eye-opening. In either case, our hope is that once you see all that Iowa has to offer, you’ll find your home here. That you come to realize as we do that this is a campus that strives to be welcoming, diverse, and dynamic. We are strengthened by our differences, and we are always working to be better.

Please know:

We will not tolerate anything but a safe and inclusive campus for people of all backgrounds regardless of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, ancestry, or disability.

We will not tolerate sexual violence, misconduct, or harassment and are committed to ensuring survivors know they are believed, supported, and assisted.

We are committed to maintaining a climate that promotes high ethical standards for students, staff, and scholars as it pertains to research, plagiarism, or cheating.

We value the First Amendment and freedom of expression and believe civil discourse and the respectful exchange of ideas are the cornerstones of higher education and this great institution.

Those of us who have made Iowa City our home know this already and stand ready to help the newest members of our community find success here, whatever the form. If you should encounter difficulty upon your journey, there are many resources available and we encourage you to reach out and ask for help.